Hang On Back Filter - Beginners Start Here (Simple) 

If you’re having trouble achieving crystal clear aquarium water, I can help! Download my Free ebook with the best tips and advice - kavemanaquatics.com/free-ebook

I've had my 75G fish tank for two years, didn't really care for it too much, so I told my wife to sell it and she didn't want to, so I decided to take into my hands and make it awesome to see and appreciate, your videos have been incredible, I've learned so much, Thank you!

My Aquaclear 50 DID come with a mesh bag for the bio media, but at first I didn't recognize it as a bag because it looks like a super skinny snakeskin and looked like throwaway packing material. But it does stretch out into a bag! Glad I caught it.

I'm not a beginner and I went back to a HOB after using a cannister filter for about 6 years. I had more problems and created a huge mess with my flooring in my house trying to wrangle that damn cannister. I have a 36 gal semi-densely planted tank. HOBs are just SO much easier to deal with. Thanks for the great videos. Very informative and helpful.

Hands down the best aquarium channel on RU-vid. I have been keeping fish for years and I learned a TON from just this video alone. Thank you!

I’ve really appreciated and found your content really helpful. You get to the topic quickly and don’t waste my time. Thanks for the great content.

Just bought my 7 year old her first pet a Betta! glad I found your channel very direct and easy to follow. #thanks and subscribed.

I came across your channel today trying to clean out my friends fish tank and I must say you are clear concise to the point thank you great videos

I had two Aqua Clear stop working on my when the power went out and back on. I now have Seachem Tidal power filters that are self priming. Now I don't have to worry when the electricity flickers, which is pretty often. >))))o>

Hey Kev, this is Kevin from Arvada, CO and your videos are just what I need. Across the board with filtration, water changes, wave makers, heater knowledge, and more! You make the hobby pleasurable and I feel more Confident about my 29 gallon community tank. Thank You so Very MUCH for all your Time! Kevin Baas

I've been using the aqua clear bio media the way the box says for years no wonder it will get changed tonight thank you.

Great learning videos! 👍 I'm getting back into fish keeping after about 15 years so I feel like a newbie so your videos are very helpful and informative. Thx Kev!

There's never a confusing moment in ur videos with how well you simplify them. Im currently using the exact same HOB(Marineland) it works wonderfully for a beginner like me. I like your ideas on the sponges given as alternatives to the cartridge. Will surely save me some coins...one question though,, is it okay to change both filters together or one at a time? I want to put in 2 cartridges in each compartment on water change day. My ultimate goal is to upgrade to a canister filter, bigger tank someday😎 thanks again bro

I have been happy with a simple set up, simple fish and snails, you have made me a better fish owner. You are THE BEST OUT THERE! Your support information, and sites, again THE BEST! You speak clearly, concisely and your clean and clear set up behind you is perfect! You are easy on the eyes too :D Thank you for sharing your gift with us!

Hi Kav! Just took a dive into your videos and I’m hooked! My hubby and I got a large 50-55 gallon tank from our neighbors when we were moving into our home. I’ve only ever had up to 10 gal tanks, so this was new to us. Your videos have taught me so much, taking it a step at a time to give our fish what they deserve. Thank you!

Can’t begin to say how much I love your videos. Thank you man!

I love the Tidal range of HOB, I’m using 35 and 110, personally I think you can’t beat them 👍

Hi there kevin, great demo . I’ve watched dozens of your videos on African cichlids.mi too keep mbuna, and peacock cichlids and Aldo dome angel fish. I watch loads of videos on Utube, I comments on loads of other peoples videos but none of them reply yo my comments. Not sure why, maybe it’s because I’m in the uk. Any ways. Back to you my man. I love your cichlid aquariums. I’ve been keeping fish since the late 1970s. My the way I’m a disabled ex army veteran. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe you to are an ex veteran. Thank you for your service comrade. I will continue to watch and learn from your videos, no one us too old to learn, right. God bless and stay healthy and stay safe from covid. Kind regards from DENN.EX ARMY VETERANS

My 1st HOB is still running 5 years later. Great tip about the cartridges also. They become costly. Pimped out my HOB a few months ago.

Wow. Thank you so much . For tell me about the way the aqua clear need to be in the filter.

Wow you really hit it on the money and straight to the point and with good explanation with step by step I am learning by u and looking for more videos thanks bro

I've been in the hobby since 1988. All I have ever used are HOB's and I have had success the whole way. I suppose that I would consider a sump or a canister filter if I had really big tanks but HOB's have done well for me. I prefer the Marineland Bio-Wheel filters. I don't replace the cartridges every month like they recommend, I only replace them when they start looking ratty. I just rinse them out in some tank water and re-use them for at least 3-6 months at a time before I will replace them.

Not a beginner but I had to chime in just to say hi! Love the video, your always super informative and humble, I love it! Cheers from Newfound Aquatics!

Excellent video. I have been installing my Penguin cartridges backwards for years.

I would be lost without you bro. I appreciate the time you take to make these videos. I've learned alot from you. 🙏

Man, your explanations are amazing. It's easy to understand specially for newbs like me. Thanks!

oops... thanks for saving some money, having two active aquariums cost me almost 35% of my monthly income, and i thought those thinks are just "things", but hey now i'm gonna get these first thing in the morning. Thanks man! :)

I sport the Fluval 110, I love it, it's huge and so much room for media. My HOB is on the side with all the other accessories. Notably better circulation, and the back is free of clutter for fish viewing. I added a wavemaker. (thanks to your wavemaker placement video)

Love the tips man, I use all aquaclear filters probably like 7 of them since Marineland or other cartridge filters require you to throw away some of your beneficial bacteria. The biggest part imo is you can't remove carbon!! Without removing carbon you can't treat your fish if they get any sort of sickness. I love your diy method never was that clever when I was young and researching hob filters. Aquaclear/fluval is the best hob imo. They last forever too no biowheel getting stuck.

I appreciate your channel as a new fish aquarium owner

oh my what a game changer!! thank you i sure do not want to replace them all the time thank you so much , i am so glad that i found your videos

I've had my P 350 on my 60 gal for a quarter century. Have changed the impeller once. I use the 3 ply foam method too using pond foam & polyfill.A bag of ceramic rings & a pot scrubbie in each side plus my bio-wheels & its still kicking ass.

I have a 60 gallon that has both the tidal 110 and the marineland. The tidal 110 is great but has a big footprint and if your aquarium is already set up and too close to the wall you have a problem. The marineland is much cheaper and not as wide so it might fit easier behind your tank. The bad thing with that filter is the impelller gets damaged easy and replacement cost almost as much as a new filter. Keep your videos coming, they are great !

I just switched my media around, didnt know box was wrong (btw...I did get a mesh bag for the bio media)🙂 You are amazing, thank you hon!

Great video bro, I have both of those filters on my tanks and have the same sponge that I use also, it saved me a lot of money and it does the job keeping my tank nice and clear

Loving your channel mate, this media replacement tip is a big money saver. Giving you more cash for more fish. Thanks from Oz bro.

Good video I have 2 - 400 marineland bio filters & extra media in & large air stones..90- gal tank.

Great Video.👍 I Still Use HOB's.

U explain so well ty.

As far as those throwaway cartridges, I reuse mine one time by rinsing them out, my kitchen sink sprayer works great at cleaning them out, I do use my fingers to crush the carbon particles a bit when I reuse them, I wouldn’t recommend reusing them over and over because the carbon does not last forever as far as cleaning and filtering, so that will cut your cartridge cost in half.

Great videos very helpful for beginner. I currently have a aqueone 75 filter. Only have room for the filter carbon cartridges. Thanks

I love what you do. Please keep making these videos.

New to the Fish Life! just subscribed very clear teaching thanks

I'm currently using a tidal 75 for my African cichlids in my 60 gallon tank. I also use a sponge filter for 125 gallon tanks but as you know you should always over filtrate with cichlids. I plan on ordering another tidal 75 so I can have 2 tidal 75's and have do much filtration to make my water super clear and to have no debris. I have a wave maker too in my tank so I'm still debating buying another tidal 75 cuz you know all about wave makers.

Love your videos. Our 20 gal came with a filter but it hangs inside the tank. It does have the cartridges but I cannot figure out if I have it set up correctly. Do you have a video with this type of filter? I believe it is a Topfin brand

I just bought a 2nd Marineland Emperor 400 for my 110 African tank (I run 2 400s and an FX6). If I was to see this video last week, I would have gotten the AquaClear. I cannot tell you how many of the "Right Size E" filters I have purchased over the decades! Foam blocks for me now! Great tips Kev!👍

Could you do a video on heaters and which you would recommed.

Your HOBs now are nice !!

Hey bro I like you. You know your stuff. Thanks for all the knowledge

Is chemical media in a tank really necessary ?? Do I have to add carbon? What are the benefits? Thank you so much you videos are so helpful. Other videos are talking about complicated things. I don’t understand. Your videos are very helpful and get back to the basics. Thank you!

Hey Kaveman, just wana say that I enjoy ALL your content but especially Cichlid related! Keep it up !

Very helpful and clear tips, as always. Thanks much, and keep up the good work.

I actually use the frames from the original cartridges and wrap the polyfill pads around them and stuff them back in. Works like a charm!

Both work great. Fluval AquaClear is my preference. Now I’ve seen the Tidal and I may just try that one out. Appreciate u sharing 💪🏼

Hey Kev, I am new to the hobby loving your videos ty vm ! They are really helpful,question on the HOB video do you still use the carbon part of the equation if you have live plants? Last question any brand of HOB filter should be prepared like your video correct, sponge on the bottom and then bio media and if you say no carbon for planted then stop there correct?

I have the Agua clear for my 3 tanks 10, 55, and 90 gallon. The only down fall is the Agua clear takes a while for the filter to get going after turning it off to clean it up and all. But other then that my tanks are crystal clear!. Good stuff brother.

I'm new to the hobby... and a new subscriber. I've been watching your videos all night. I have a question about the water flow rate. I have a 15 gallon vertical tank and smaller fish..guppies, dannio etc. It seemed to me that the flow was too high and was creating a down draft.. or rip tide, so to speak. All the fish were staying at the surface, and if they swam by the filter outlet, they'd get drug to the bottom. My HOB doesn't have flow control, so i got a piece of coarse sponge and cut a little square to put in my pickup tube. It reduced the flow, and the fish seemed happier.... but am i affecting the water filtration?

Great video, very helpfull. Thanks a lot. Greetings from Costa Rica.

Ready?! Let’s go!

I have an aquaclear I prefer it for the ease where I can custom chose my media

I will tell you, I have two Aqua Clear filters and three Fluval C2's, and now I run the Top Fin filters on all my aquariums, because they are the only easy one's that actually start up without priming if we get a power outtage. I also run a filter sponge in all three just in case. Obviously the instructions for the chemical media is the middle filtration not the last. Fluval, and Aqua Clear filters have sponge first, carbon, and then bio media.

Hi, love your videos, for the penguin filter, when using the roll of the sponge you should, you said we can replace it with that roll, but how do you put the black side of the original cartridge? 😊

Hi Kevin Great Channel could you make a video about UV sterilizers and how to hook up to a pump? Thanks

Wow, I have been having cycling issues, my aquaclear 70 has been set up wrong from what i thought, I have the chemical before the bio so my bacteria is struggling to grow or stay alive even, thanks Kev 😢🙏🏻

Hello I find your videos very informative! I recently got back into the hobby after a ten year hiatus. I don’t quite understand in which order the mechanical bio and the chemical filtration work. I have an emperor 450. Do I just fit all that I can on the inside where there is space? Where does the Polly fill go. Do you have a short tutorial on how to the 450 works?

You are the bomb man, very thorough, and very knowledgeable. By the way your tanks are sick! 👍🏾💯✌🏾

Hey Kev just came across your channel and very grateful I did! I'm a beginner in the hobby and I'm wondering what causes white foam build up in a tank? A film over the top of the water is apparent as well. I've read about something to do with protein maybe but I really am not sure. It builds up especially around where the water falls back into the tank in the HOB filter. Am I not cleaning the poop and vacuuming enough maybe?

Fluval finally got the hint and puts their bio media in mesh bags now. 😂

Nice vid, short & direct to the point. New sub here!

Another great 👍🏿 Video Just Got the 55 gal Saturday with the Kit but I’m looking to tweak the filter that came with the Kit and I wanted to know what kind to tweak it with , you’ve given me a good choice 👍🏿 to Choose from I may do the Marine Land 450 with the (2) Extra Trays 🤝 Thanks

Great video and tips Kev... I saw couple videos from KG Tropicals on the Tidal HOB and looks really good, I might get that since I am a beginner still. Could you do a video on which are best lights for aquariums like maybe top 10? I am looking to buy lights but don't know which one to get since I want to have some beginner plants...Let us know!

I'm looking for a new HoB filter. I just have the one that came with my top fin set up. Thinking of trying a new one. I'm struggling with brown algea growth. Ug

Great video always straight to the point! I have a marineland for my 20 Gallon. Can you show how to put the sponge and polish pad. Or is it sponge in front and polish pad with hard surface against the back?

Thanks Kev

Thanks so much for the educational video. I do have to admit that after watching many videos between aqua clear and tidal, between the comments and videos the arguments become very similar to Apple versus Samsung phones? And it really does seem to complicate things more? I noticed in one of your comments that you wrote that tidal was your new favorite. What is your opinion on the skimmer on the tidal, and do you feel that the skimmer may cause issues for small fish like green neons etc? That's really where I'm stuck on my decision.

Hi, I'm a beginner but already a huge fan of your channel. I have a topfin HOB filter. I have cartridges to replace it but they don't have a carbon lining. Should I purchase a carbon filter to add to it? I also use a course sponge and polyfil in the filter where the cartridges are. I think I need to add biological media too.

Great content. Which sponge goes to the back of the filter, course or soft?

Love your videos! They've helped me get back acclimated in the hobby after years away. I have a 75 gallon with mbunas. Would you recommend a Intake sponge on the tube? I have a tidal 110, wavemaker and 1 large sponge filter that sits in the opposite corner. Thank you for your help!

Hey Kevin! Love you’re videos. Thank you so much! I wanted to ask a question about something you said. Are you absolutely sure the Fluval instruction booklet is incorrect and we should have the carbon bag on top with the bio bag next and coarse foam block on the bottom? The manual says the bio bag should be on top with the carbon pack in the middle. Thank you.

Thanks men this video help me out a lot.

Thanks bro you rock

I have a question? With the penguin, when you change the cartridge, doesn’t it remove all of the beneficial bacteria and restart your cycle? I have this question because I have an hob and it has replaceable cartridges too

Hey Kevin! Can't get enough of your videos! I'm using a Aqeuon Quiet Flow 75 HOB on my 55 gal. I thought throwing away the old cartridges and replacing with new ones is ruining your beneficial bacteria....any advice on that?

I just purchased a 55 gallon aquarium. I've had a 10 and 20 gallon in the past. I was looking at the Whisper EX 70. Do you have any thoughtson it? I just started watching your videos, I think you do a great job keeping things interesting and simple. Thank you

Kaveman always making good vids

KEV, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOB AND IN PAST VIDEOS DEALING WITH STINKY AQUARIUM WATER.. BUT WHAT ABOUT STINKY HOB BIO SPONGES? EXAMPLE AQUEON POWER PLUS. THIS HOB HAS THE GREY LIL 1 INCH BY 3 INCH BIO SPONGE THAT HAS WATER FLOWING OVER IT, BUT IS ALSO OPEN TO ROOM AIR. THUS IT STINKS..I ACTUALLY HAD TO SET UP A DUAL BASKET FILTER WITH ACTIVATED CHARCOAL IN THE BASKETS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL FROM THE OTHER FILTER. SINCE I CAN ONLY SHAKE THE BIO SPONGE OUT IN OLD TANK WATER, I CAN'T GET RID OF THAT BIO SPONGE SMELL IN MY LIVING ROOM. I EVEN ADDED A SMALL SPONGE FILTER. OVER KILL FOR A 10 GALLON TANK. SHOULD I GET A DIFFERENT HOB OR GET RID OF THAT BIO SPONGE..LETTING THE SPONGE FILTER BUILD BIO? PLEASE ADVISE

Thas a nice ring you have there!

I literally only listen to this guy about my fish tanks.

Kave man you've answered a question of mine before and I appreciate but I feel I may have made a mistake in my dinosaur bichir tank it started in an old tank I added them to a new tank with old substrate and old filtration but today I added a new filter system to the tank and did not rinse the new filter the old one is still in the new tank as well until the new one is established I'm scared that I didn't do something right and may have harmed my fish

You read my thoughts, great video

You are very helpful, thank you 🤗

I have a 29 gallon bow front tank . I bought everything you listed from the the sponge filter, wave maker , the prime, the poly full, , the air tube and everything you posted to modify it and the the tetra silent air pump. My question is do you still recommend the canister filter so I can achieve the most clear water for my 29 gallon tank or is the HOB filter suffice

Love your channel dude

❤️❤️❤️ thank you 🙏👏🥰 information is invaluable xx

I finally did my filter hang on back without the cartridge cost me too much. I put the sponge floss and media. Is the whote.pad.u showed us cled floss pad ,? Not sure. Plus I bought this big piece of black pad not sure if getting all correct items by name. Ty for explaining so well.

When doing a water change what type of water thermostat do you get and how do you apply it to your sink?

That's how I started 30 gallon tank and a HOB ! My fish of choice were red tail sharks, and later Dempsey !! Then Later Oscars !

Kave, great videos. I have Penguin 200 with a bio wheel that holds two filters. I’m going to take one filter out and replace with Polyfill. My question is where should I put the poly fill. Right behind the bio wheel or before the stock filter. Thank you

Great Video Kev ! keep em coming !

Hi Kave, I really enjoy watching all of your content- I am new to the hobby and so far I am loving it!! but now that I just watched this video about filter can I change my current hang on back filter to the AQUAclear??